Fifth-wheel for vehicles



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H. G. OLDS. FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

No. 487,505. PatentedSept. 30, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. OLDS, OF FORT W'AYNE, INDIANA.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 437,505, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed November 29, 1889. Serial No. 331,918. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, HENRY G. OLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Running-Gear for Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of his specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved connection between the fore part of a vehicle and the axle; and to this end it consists in pivotally connecting the reach to said axle and pivotally connecting the head-block upon a spring attached to said axle.

The invention further consists in an improved coupling or connection for the reach and axle, as will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved runninggear; Fig. 2, a cross-section of the fifth-wheel in a line parallel with the axle. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the lower disk of the fifth-wheel; Fig. 4, a bottom plan of the upper disk; Fig. 5, a cross-section of the fifth-wheel at right angles to the axle.

Like letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the figures.

A is the front axle of a buggy or light gagon, usually either a square or round steel B is the head-block, carrying the upper half of the fifth-wheel connections. This fifthwheel is made to avoid the necessity of the ordinary king-bolt and the necessary weakening of parts incident thereto, and consists of a casting D, attached by screws or otherwise to the under side of the bar B. This casting is at its middle widened out into an open circle or ring O, which is provided with an interior flange E, forming a shoulder upon which rests acircular plate F, which revolves 'freely within the ring 0.

G is a short bolster of wood for supporting the lower half of the fifth-wheel. Upon the upper side of this bolster is secured another casting H, having at its center a ring I, corresponding to the ring 0. Within this ring I on its upper side is a circular flange J, extending up and fitting within the ring 0. This ring I rotates freely against and within resting on the plates at 00 and performing the same purpose as in ordinary fifth-wheels.

In the front gearing of vehicles as ordinarily constructed the lower part of the fifthwheel is attached usually to a bolster upon the axle, and the head-block carrying the springs is connected with the axle by means of a king-bolt while the reach connecting the rear and front axles is ordinarily attached to the head-block or upper portion of the fifthwheel. In my invention this arrangement of parts is entirely changed. The fifth-Wheel is supported by the half-elliptic spring K, which is hung upon the curved arms L L, which are in turn attached to the axle by the clips a a. In order to fasten the head-block B to the spring K, and hence to the axle, Without the use of king-bolts, I use the two ordinary bolts 1) c. countersunk in the plate F and pass down through holes in the lugs d d of the ring I one in front and one behind the bolster G- and spring K. A bar M, extending across the spring K, receives the ends of the bolts 17 c, which are secured in place by the nuts ff, and all the parts of the fifth-wheel tightly bolted together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a vehicle, the combination of the axle A, the spring K, supported thereon, and the fifthwheel composed of the casting H, secured to The upper ends of these bolts are.

the spring, having the ring I, provided with a 5 HENRY G. OLDS. Witnesses:

FEED. F. BOLTZ, J os. HENRY WILDER.

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